Pitt
13-8,4-6ACC
Duke
17-3,7-2ACC
Toney Nets Career-High 27 at No. 9 Duke
1/28/2020 11:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DURHAM, N.C. - Au'Diese Toney had a career-high 27 points but No. 9 Duke pulled away late, as the Panthers fell to the Blue Devils, 79-67. Both teams honored Kobe Bryant during a pregame ceremony at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
The somber opening gave way to a testy battle on the court. Vernon Carey Jr. had 26 points and 13 rebounds for Duke.
Before tipoff, players for Duke and Pitt honored Bryant when they warmed up in T-shirts with purple and gold numerals 8 on the front and 24 on the back - the numbers Bryant wore with the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant and his daughter Gianna were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, on Sunday morning.
Tre Jones contributed 14 points and Jordan Goldwire scored 13 as the Blue Devils (17-3, 6-2 ACC) won their second straight game after dropping consecutive decisions to Clemson and Louisville.
With Panthers defenders concentrating on Carey, Duke's perimeter players capitalized on wide-open 3-point opportunities. By halftime, junior guard Goldwire had a career-high three 3-pointers as Duke was 7 for 14 from beyond the arc in the first half.
Pitt (13-8, 4-6) mounted a furious rally in the second half, though, as Duke temporarily lost its scoring touch after leading 60-42. A 23-8 run sparked by Toney's inside and outside scoring pulled the Panthers within 68-65 with 4:26 to play. But a pair of free throws by Matthew Hurt, a basket on the block by Carey and a 3-pointer by Stanley restored a double-digit lead for Duke.
Justin Champagnie scored 13 points and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds, while Xavier Johnson finished with nine points and four boards. Trey McGowens dished out a team-best six assists and Abdoul Karim Coulibaly totaled eight points and four rebounds in a career-high 21 minutes.
BIG PICTURE
Pittsburgh: The Panthers are scrappy, and athletic and present challenges for opponents with their defense. A double-digit loss is no occasion for celebration, but Pitt can take pride in the way it competed in Capel's homecoming, trailing by just three points late in the second half.
Duke: The Blue Devils' accuracy from 3-point range in the first half was the most welcome development of the night. An intense man-to-man defense and the low-post scoring skills of Carey should give Duke a chance to win just about every game.
UP NEXT
Pittsburgh: Hosts Miami on Sunday.
Duke: Visits Syracuse on Saturday to start a three-game road swing.
